Sam’s 100-1 shot ‘has a chance’

Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen is quietly confident of producing an upset when he boards 100-1 shot Ollie Magern in tomorrow’s Grand National at Aintree.

The London-based rider came fifth on Libertine in 2007 and is confident that the 11-year-old Nigel Twiston-Davies owned horse will hold its own.

Weighing in at 11-06, Waley-Cohen, 26, knows that the history books show that the horse is “carrying too much weight” to feature strongly, but said: “The going should be ideal, he will like the ground.

“Typically I would have ridden him a few more times but I only found out on Monday. He is a good each-way chance if we can get into a nice rhythm. I think that his odds are probably a bit too long.”

Looking ahead to his second National, he said: “The fact that I have done the race before gives me confidence. I am really excited. It is a dream come true to have another shot. The beauty of this race is that you have as good a chance as anything. It is undoubtedly the race that every jockey hopes to win and is the ultimate race for horse and jockey.”

Waley-Cohen warmed-up for the race by winning the National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup on Tricky Trickster last month.

“I think he can raise his game as he is a really class horse and if he can find form he has a good chance.”